In the 19th century, Spanish composer Joaquin Romualdo Gaztambide was one of the leading composers of Zarazuela, a uniquely Spanish form of light opera or operetta. Although his compositional style was heavily influenced by the Italianate style, Gaztambide incorporated distinctly Spanish rhythms and dances.
After a good musical education, and an initial musical career which took him first to Madrid, then on to France and Italy, Gaztambide accepted a position at the Teatro de la Zarazuela in Madrid, where he worked in partnership with Francisco Barbieri. During his lifetime, Gaztambide produced around 40 Zarazuela, on a wide range of different themes, including El sueño de una noche de verano an adaptation of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream.
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